SODOM
was situated in a beautiful and fertile plain, and reveled in an
abundance of everything that nature and art could bestow. The
inhabitants of Sodom seemed to be strangers to want and to work. A poor
man was not permitted to become an inhabitant of the city. He was driven
out by abuse, or if not driven out, was the victim of an iniquitous plan
that compassed his ruin. The people of this wicked city took no thought
for the future life. Idleness and wealth and love of excitement carried
them into every excess of pleasure and indulgence. The sensual, animal
nature was cultivated, and as, like the world before the flood, the
imagination of their hearts was evil, and evil continually, they set
their minds to work to find out new, unnatural ways whereby they might
gratify their abominable, corrupt passions.

Inspiration
gives a testimony concerning the corrupt condition of the world before
the flood. The Bible says: "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the
coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the
flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the
flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son
of Man be." Before the flood they employed all their powers for the
gratification of base passions, and cast contempt upon the law of God,
and as it was in the days of the flood, so it was in the time of Sodom.
They would not admit for a moment that their devotion to sensual
pleasure brought upon them guilt and danger. They knew not that the
cloud of divine wrath, which their sin had for years been loading, was
about to break forth in vengeance upon them.

Before the
time of Sodom's overthrow, two angels visited Abraham and were
courteously entertained. As they were passing on their way to Sodom,
Abraham accompanied them, and they revealed to the patriarch the errand
for which they had come,--to destroy Sodom. They told Abraham that
because of the grievous wickedness of the inhabitants, the city was to
be destroyed. Abraham knew that Lot was in this place, and although he
had been taught of God, he could not believe that the inhabitants of
Sodom were so utterly corrupt. He began to plead that the righteous
should not perish with the wicked, that if a certain number of the godly
were there, the city might be spared. Pleading for the city, he
decreased the number of righteous that would be likely to be found in
the city, until he reached the number of ten. But although God would
have spared the city if ten righteous persons could have been found
there, that number could not be made up to redeem the city.

As the
evening draws on, the men of Sodom see the two messengers approaching,
but as they have concealed their heavenly character, they appear as
common men coming in from the country to visit Sodom. If the veil could
be removed from our eyes we should often see in the form of men, the
powerful messengers of mercy or of wrath among us. They warn, they
caution, they reprove, they protect from a thousand dangers, and yet we
know not that the angel's blessing has come to us.

As the
angels draw nigh unto Sodom, only one man manifests an interest in the
strangers. Lot welcomed them in, invited them to his house. He was
ignorant in regard to the character of these men, and knew not the
terrible errand upon which they had come; but the courtesy which he
manifested was in harmony with his character, and he was saved from the
general ruin. Had he appeared indifferent to these strangers, he would
not have secured to himself such help as only the angels can give. Many
a house has been closed to strangers who were God's messengers of hope,
and blessing, and peace. In neglecting the commonest duties of life,
withholding kindness and courtesy and hospitality, we miss the richest
blessings heaven has to bestow.

When the
men of Sodom saw that Lot opened his doors to these strangers, that he
did not treat them with derision and contempt, they were stirred with
passion. As Lot in Eastern fashion bows in deference, and invites them
to share his home, they taunt and jeer. Lot was a man of great wealth,
but in showing respect to these travelers he did not meet the mind of
these ease-loving Sodomites. They crowded about the house of Lot, and as
the crowd increased, vile speeches were made which revealed the state of
corruption that existed among the people, and the worst suggestions were
received and acted upon. The crowd became more clamorous in their cries
to have Lot bring forth the strangers to them; for they had become so
base through the indulgence of evil passions, that every good thought
had been uprooted, and reason was so clouded that they would even do
violence to the angels of heaven.

The angels
had come to see if there were any in the city who were not corrupted,
and could be persuaded to flee from the impending doom that threatened
Sodom. That night the evil doers added the last drop to their cup of
iniquity, and the wrath of God could no longer be delayed. The night of
the destruction of Sodom the inhabitants of the city were doing that
which they had been doing through all their past life. They were no more
base and dissolute and corrupt than on other nights when strangers had
entered their city; but there is a point beyond which there is no
reprieve, and that night the inhabitants of Sodom passed the mystic
boundary that decided their destiny. Lot expostulated with them at his
door, and refused to permit them to do violence to the strangers who
were in his house. But the evil doers had no idea of being restrained
from accomplishing their purpose, but thought to beat Lot to the ground,
and get access to the strangers. Before this was done, the angels drew
Lot into the house, and smote the men with blindness, so that they
wearied themselves to find the door.

The angels
then told Lot what was their errand, and made known to him that God
would bring destruction upon the wicked city. Lot believed the word of
the angels, but his family was reluctant to receive their message, for
they had so long lived in sight and sound of wickedness that their
senses were blunted to the grievous character of sin. Lot had afflicted
his soul for the debasing sins that the Sodomites were continually
committing, and yet even he had not thought their sin was of the
debasing character it was, nor deemed that it was so firmly seated as to
yield to no remedy. He begs permission of the angels to go forth and
warn his daughters and sons-in-law who live in the city. He made his way
through the rabble, who were prevented from injuring him by the power of
the angels, and gave his message to his children. With grief and terror
he begs them to leave the doomed city, and flee with him ere its
destruction shall be accomplished, but they look upon him as upon one
who is mad, coming to them with such a message at the midnight hour.
They laugh at his fears, and think some horrible nightmare has crazed
his brain. They will not trouble themselves about the matter, but treat
it as a joke, and these who will not receive the message, sleep on,
heedless of the last warning of their lives.

Anxious and
disappointed, Lot returns to his home through the rabble, and finds the
angels still waiting, urging that Lot and his family leave the city
before the sun is fully risen. As they go out they see no visible token
of God's displeasure. Everything seems to say peace and safety. The sun
is illuminating the eastern hills with golden beams, and everything in
nature seems to say peace. But the words of the angels ring in the ears
of Lot, saying, "The Lord will destroy this city." Unbelief did not
prevent the destruction of Sodom. Trifling and gayety did not secure its
inhabitants against the doom that overtook the wicked city. They
flattered themselves that long days of indulgence in sin were yet to be
theirs, but in such an hour as they thought not of, ruin encompassed
them.

How hard it
was for Lot to leave Sodom! Part of his family had to be left behind,
and all the wealth he had accumulated had to be sacrificed. He must go
out from Sodom a poor man. The labor of years has to be counted in vain.
He does not feel the terrible necessity for God's judgment to fall upon
the wicked city, and he still lingers. The angels urge his immediate
departure; but Lot, stupefied with sorrow for the loss of his children
and property, still hesitates. The angels lay hold of his hands, and the
hands of his wife and children, and with merciful violence hasten them
out of the city. When they reach the city limits, a word of command is
given with startling vehemence: "Escape for thy life; look not behind
thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest
ye be consumed." A few moments' delay now, a few moments of hesitancy, a
few moments' disregard of the warning, will cost the fugitives their
lives. They are not even to turn their eyes back to see if their
beautiful home has survived the general ruin, or the storm will burst
upon them. God has delayed his retributive judgment only that they may
escape. What care, what tenderness, to these four who flee from the
doomed city!

Lot is
confused, terrified, and distracted. He begs to be allowed to rest at a
little settlement on this side the mountains. Unbelief sprang up in his
heart, and he said: "Oh, not so, my Lord; behold now, thy servant hath
found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou
hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the
mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die; behold now, this city is
near to flee unto, and it is a little one; oh, let me escape thither (is
it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See,
I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not
overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape
thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore
the name of the city was called Zoar."

But why
should Lot not have trusted the mercy of the angels in directing him to
escape to the mountains, since he ascribed to them the saving of his
life? Lot's stay in Sodom had not tended to increase his faith in God,
nor had his intercourse with those who knew not God tended to convert
them from the error of their way. He had pleaded that the angels permit
him to take up his abode in the city of Zoar, saying, "Is it not a
little one? and my soul shall live," as though the God who had directed
his escape from Sodom did not understand how to preserve the life he had
saved. But what mercy and condescension are manifested by the God of
heaven! His request is heard, and his plea granted; yet how much better
would it have been to heed the angel's voice, and go to the mountains,
as far as possible from the wicked city. The angel bids him to hasten,
because the fiery storm would be widespread and terrible.

One of the
four fugitives ventures to cast a lingering look behind, to see the
coming storm, and the number is less by one; for she stands as a memento
of God's wrath, turned into a pillar of salt. Had Lot earnestly and
firmly fled to the mountains, as the angels had directed, without
pleading for a new plan, his wife would not have transgressed the
commandment of the angels, and would have been at his side.

When the
first beams of the morning dawn, the inhabitants of Sodom are not aware
of the departure of Lot and the angels. They were determined to abuse
the strangers, but as they come to the house of Lot, it is found vacant,
and the hour of doom comes upon them. And the Lord rains fire and
brimstone upon the city, and the beautiful plain that looked like
Paradise when the angels passed over it, now looks like a parched and
blackened desert. The smoke of the burning goes up like the smoke of a
great furnace, and the whole heaven is illuminated with the flames of
the great conflagration. Sodom has become a place of desolation and
ruin.

The sin of
the people rose up to heaven, and because of the iniquity of the people,
the Lord poured out the vials of his wrath. The fearful doom of Sodom
stands forth as a warning for all time, and especially for those who
live in the last days. The destruction of Sodom was a symbol of the
destruction that will come upon the finally impenitent, when tempests of
fire come from above, and fountains of flame break forth from the crust
of the earth. The fate of this ancient city should be a warning to all
who live for self, and who corrupt their ways before God. The sin of
Sodom is the sin of many cities now in existence, that have not been
destroyed as was Sodom. Ezekiel says, "Behold, this was the iniquity of
thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness
was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of
the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination
before me; therefore I took them away as I saw good."

The warning
that was given to Lot comes down to us who live in this degenerate
age,--"Escape for thy life." The voice of the tempter is crying peace
and safety. The evil one would have you feel that you have nothing to
fear, and bids you eat, drink, and be merry. Which voice will you heed,
the voice of heaven, or the voice that lures you to destruction? The
Redeemer of the world, the compassionate Friend of man, discloses to our
eyes the fact that there is a sin greater than the sin of Sodom. It is
that of sinning against greater light. To those who have heard and have
not heeded the gospel invitation to repent and have faith in Christ, the
sin is greater than was the sin of Sodom. To those who have professed
the name of Jesus, who have professed to know God, and to keep his
commandments, and yet who have misrepresented Christ in their daily life
and character, who have been warned and entreated, and still dishonor
their Redeemer by their unconsecrated lives, the sin is greater than
that of Sodom.

Jesus said:
"Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty
works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they
would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you,
It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment,
than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall
be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works, which have been done
in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained unto this day.
But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of
Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee."

The warning
of Christ sounds down along the lines to our day. He would arouse the
people for whom he gave his life, and attract their attention to
himself, the source of all wisdom, righteousness, strength, and hope,
and peace. He would have his people let their light shine forth to the
world in good works. The sins of Sodom are repeated in our day, and the
earth is destroyed and corrupted under the inhabitants thereof; but the
worst feature of the iniquity of this day is a form of godliness without
the power thereof. Those who profess to have great light are found among
the careless and indifferent, and the cause of Christ is wounded in the
house of its professed friends. Let those who would be saved, arouse
from their lethargy, and give the trumpet a certain sound; for the end
of all things is at hand.